WestVic state league under-17 boys’ premiership team, at rear, Hamish Verco, Bryce Robinson, Lachlan Clark, Braden Clark, coach Chris Vaughan, Oscar Currell, assistant coach Chris Mitchell; centre row, Zach Shipham, Ned Jackson and; at front, Brody Welding, co-captain Thomas Watts, Max Ferrier, Matt Haberfield, co-captain Will Jackson, Jack White, Magnus Baker and goalkeeper Simon Churcher.
WESTVIC is the Hockey Victoria under-17 boys’ pennant premier.
Bendigo Bank WestVic ran away from St Bernard’s 6-0 in the north-west division grand final at Altona on Friday night.
Captain Will Jackson had an outstanding game, scoring a hat-trick in his last appearance at this level.
Max Ferrier, Oscar Currell and Brad Clark also scored for the Ballarat-based regional combination, which finished on top of the ladder and lost one game for the season.
WestVic led 2-0 at half-time and then put the game away in the second half with a dominant display to secure its second state league premiership.
A delighted WestVic coach Chris Vaughan said the players had been nervous ahead of the game, but a strong preparation and passion for the game had allowed them to produce their best hockey of the year.
He said having six under-15 players in the team provided a sound base for the future of the WestVic program.
St Bernard’s employed a long-hitting game, which proved unsuccessful against a well-organised whole-team defence.
WestVic’s defensive unit led by Simon Churcher, Ned Jackson and Bryce Robinson was in season-best form, allowing St Bernard’s just one genuine shot in each half.
WestVic did not concede a penalty corner for the game.
Ferrier and Thomas Watts were outstanding in the midfield, and Lachlan Clark played one of his best games for the season up forward, while his brother Braden was again a handful.
The fast-moving Currell opened the scoring with a well-placed shot after beating a defender.
Jackson then followed up with a reverse-stick goal from the top of the circle.
An undisciplined act from a St Bernard’s defender gifted WestVic an early penalty corner in the second half and Will Jackson took full advantage with a drag-flick goal.
Ferrier scored through a penalty corner moments later and then an illegal goal-line save provided goal-scoring machine Jackson with his third from the resulting penalty stroke.
Braden Clark joined the party late in the game, beating the goalkeeper one-on-one to complete.
HOCKEY VICTORIA UNDER-17 BOYS GRAND FINAL
WestVic 6 (Goals: Will Jackson 3, Oscar Currell, Max Ferrier, Brad Clark. Best: Thomas Watts, Max Ferrier, Will Jackson, Ned Jackson) d St Bernard’s 0.
